Samoa Islands

Samoa Islands, formerly Navigators Islands, group of islands, central Pacific Ocean. The islands east of longitude 171° west form an unorganized territory of the United States named American Samoa. The islands west of the meridian constitute the independent state of Samoa. Most of the population of the islands are part or wholly Polynesian. The islands are volcanic or coral in origin. The larger ones are mountainous and well forested. The climate is tropical, and rainfall is abundant from November to April. Earthquakes and severe hurricanes occur frequently. The islands are rich in vegetation, but the fauna is extremely limited. Snakes, lizards, and a variety of birds are the only indigenous animals. Among the birds the most remarkable is the tooth-billed pigeon, Didunculus strigirostis, which has an owl-like bill with three “teeth” projecting from the lower mandible.